Hello and welcome to The Daily Poem here on the Close Reeds Podcast Network.

I'm David Kern. Today is December 11, 2019.

And the poem that I'm going to read today is by a very famous American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

He lived from 1807 to 1882. It was the first American to translate

Dante's Divine Comedy. He's also known for poems like Paul Revere's Ride, Evangeline, and the

Song of Hiawatha. And the poem that I'm going to read today is called Christmas Bells.

And you will recognize it for the Christmas Carol that inspired it. This is how it goes.

I heard the bells on Christmas Day, their old familiar carols play,

and wild and sweet the words repeat of peace on earth goodwill to men.

And thought how as the day had come the belfries of all Christendom had rolled along

the unbroken song of Peace Christendom had rolled along the unbroken

song of peace on earth, goodwill to men, till ringing, singing on its way, the world revolved

from night to day, a voice, a chime, a chant sublime, of peace on earth, goodwill to men.

Then, from each black, a cursive mouth, the cannon thundered in the south, and with the sound, the carols drowned, of peace on earth, goodwill to men.

It was as if an earthquake rent the hearthstones of a continent, and made forlorn the households born of peace on earth, goodwill to men.

And in despair, I bowed my head.

There is no peace on earth, I said.

For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, goodwill to men.

Then peeled the bells more loud and deep.

God is not dead, nor doth he sleep. The wrong shall fail,

the right prevail with peace on earth, goodwill to men.

So you probably recognize the Christmas Carol that was inspired by this particular poem. It's called I

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